Device for severing a spare rib

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for severing a spare rib (RR) from a backbone (R), whereby the split backbone is conveyed inside a guideway ( 2 ), which is comprised of two guide plates ( 21, 22 ) and which delimits a wedge-shaped channel ( 23 ) through which the spare rib (R) projects each time and a cutting edge ( 10 ) of a cutting device ( 1 ) traverses past on the side of the rib. The cutting device ( 1 ) is a rotary blade with a cutting rim ( 10 ), which is tapered to form a sharp edge, and its cutting blade ( 11 ) is arranged nearly parallel to the guide plates ( 21, 22 ) whose distance from one another can be adjusted.

[0001] The present invention is concerned with a device for severing asparerib from a backbone, wherein the split backbone is conveyed insidea guideway, which is comprised of two guide plates and which delimits awedge-shaped channel through which the sparerib projects in each caseand a cutting device traverses past on the side of the ribs.

[0002] A cutting device of this type is known from CA 2,010,034, whereina band saw crosses the path of conveyance of the sparerib. The band saw,as is well known, produces a wide cut of approximately 0.8 mm and,hence, high losses on the valuable spareribs. The waste material must bedisposed of in a complex manner in accordance with the regulations.Also, in the above known device the spacing cannot be varied between thetwo steep-angled guide surfaces that are located at the input end of thesaw. In these, the backbone with the ribs is held in such a way that theribs are located in between and the backbone above them, thus definingthe cutting plane of the saw in relation to the backbone. As a result,in the case of a thicker backbone, the cut is unnecessarily far awayfrom it and a considerable amount of sparerib is lost. The band saw hasthe added shortcoming that it incorporates multiple moving parts, whichrequire complex cleaning and maintenance.

[0003] It is the object of the invention to create a cutting device forspareribs that does not have the above shortcomings and results inminimal waste and losses while providing a simple design and safeoperation.

[0004] This object is met in such a way that the cutting tool is acircular blade with a slicing or serrated edge, which is tapered to forma sharp edge and which is disposed close and parallel to the guideplates, whose distance from one another can be adjusted.

[0005] Advantageous embodiments will be specified in the subclaims.

[0006] The blade with its wedge-shaped finish, as compared to a bandsaw, operates as a rotating cutting blade, which pushes the separatedareas apart without removing much material from the cut like a saw. Thecutting losses are thus very minimal when a small serration is providedalong the edge and next to zero when a smooth or slightly wave-shapedcutting edge is implemented.

[0007] The adjustability of the width of the guide channel because ofthe adjustability of one guide plate in relation to the other results ineach case in an optimal position of the backbone in the channel thatmatches its thickness. In this manner the cut is performed close to thevertebrae in each case, and it prevents cutting into the side processesthat extend from the vertebrae next to the ribs by a close margin, butno piece of the sparerib is lost.

[0008] The exact depth position of the backbone in the guide channel isensured by a conveyor drive that exerts an elastic pressure andcomprises a plurality of contact pressure wheels that are drivensynchronously and can optionally be coupled, and which are heldelastically in the direction toward the split surface of the backbone.The contact pressure wheels, of which there are preferably three, arepositioned along the channel in such a way that at least one of themacts upon the backbone before the ribs enter into the cutting position,and at least one of them acts upon the backbone after it leaves thecutting area.

[0009] The conveyor belt with its guide plates starts in front of theconveyor wheels with a covered safety area and with an insertion area infront of the former, where the backbone with the attached ribs isplaced, inserted, into the channel.

[0010] To render the insertion simple, the guide and support plates arepositioned horizontally and the circular cutting blade is disposedhorizontally below it.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment the cutting blade enters with itsedge into a groove in the guide plate so that the cutting blade togetherwith the closely adjacent groove leg performs a shearing function. Thecircumference speed of the blade is only approximately 5 times greaterthan the conveyance speed and thus considerably slower than that of asaw.

[0012] What remains on a backbone after the tenderloin has been cut outare the curved true ribs,; of which 100 to 150 mm for the formation ofthe spareribs are left on the backbone to be severed in each case, andadjoining the same is an area with false ribs, which are shorter andvirtually not curved. Between the individual true and false ribs extendsthe valuable residual meat, which is to be rendered useable by thesevering cut. In a preferred method, incisions are made into theresidual meat in the transition area between the types of ribs and thebackbone is then placed into the cutting device. The difference inlength between the curved and straight ribs is utilized advantageouslyto separate the two rib sections after they have been severed in such away that a separating wall is disposed at an appropriate height in thedrop region for the rib sections. The deflector unit that is formed inthis manner guides the curved wide spareribs and the narrow, shorterside pieces into different collection containers.

[0013] In an advantageous improvement of the invention, a conveyor beltwith a drive that transports the spareribs to a processing table isdisposed in the end region behind the cutting device in lieu of a slide.The belt conveyor and its protection cover are advantageously mountedheight adjustable on the stand of the cutting device in an easilyremovable manner, to permit an effortless cleaning.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment, severing shears areprovided in the front inlet area to cut off the relatively small flapwith the false ribs so that the cutting disk is used only to sever thereal ribs. This eliminates the separation in the rear conveyance area.The severing shears are controlled with optical sensors that areadjusted to the transition area between the short and long ribs.

[0015] Advantageous embodiments are shown in FIGS. 1-8.

[0016]FIG. 1 shows a front elevational view of the device withsee-through covering;

[0017]FIG. 2 shows a see-through side elevational view;

[0018]FIG. 3 shows a top view with the forward drive assembly removed;

[0019]FIG. 4 shows a front elevational view with the forward driveassembly swiveled up;

[0020]FIG. 5 shows a detail of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 6 shows a conveyor belt addition with removed¹ in a top view;

[0022]FIG. 7 shows the conveyor belt in a side elevational view;

[0023]FIG. 8 shows the side elevational view with swiveled up coveringsand conveyor belt.

[0024]FIG. 1 shows the device, which is mounted on a stand 4 with wheels46, in a depiction with the covering 38, 41 shown as see-through.Mounted in the stand 4 is a circular cutting device 1 with a verticalaxis of rotation. The geared motor 12 carries on its driving axle thecircular cutting blade 11, which has a toothed rim 10 or preferably atooth-free shearing edge on its tapered edge region.

[0025] The cutting blade 11 extends to below a guideway 2, which isdesigned as a guide channel 23 between two guide plates 21, 22 andexecuted narrowing towards the bottom. This design permits the insertionof the split backbone RR longitudinally, with the spiny processes DFfacing to the side and leaving the sparerib RS projecting toward thebottom so that the cutting blade 11 severs the ribs closely beneath thevertebrae.

[0026] The guide plate 22 that is situated on the outside incorporates acutting rim receiving groove 24 in the longitudinal direction. The guideplate 22 slides in cross guides 26 and can be locked with locking means25 in the stand 4, thus rendering the gap width of the guide channel 23easily adjustable to the vertebrae size of the animal carcasses beingprocessed.

[0027] Removal funnels 43, 44 are disposed below the guideway 2, throughwhich the wider sparerib RS and the narrower side piece, which containsthe shorter false ribs, are carried off separately.

[0028] A conveyor drive 3 is disposed above the guideway 2. It acts uponthe split side of the backbone with a series of conveyor wheels 33 andtransports the same into the cutting station and out of it. The conveyorwheels 33 are provided with elastic webs, and/or they are supported witha limited mobility relative to one another in pendulum-type supports 34or with a flexible coupling, and driven in a synchronized manner viagearwheels 36 by the conveyor motor 37.

[0029] The drive assembly of the conveyor 3 is supported pivoting in apivot bearing 50 on the stand 4 and encased by the conveyor drivehousing 38. The conveyor wheels and the cutting area are encased by aprotection hood 41, which is disposed removable and pivoting on theconveyor drive housing 38 by means of a suspension-type connector 42.

[0030]FIG. 2 shows a side elevational view with a covering 38 that isdrawn as see-through. The stand 4 has two longitudinal rollers 46A andtwo swivel-mounted lockable rollers so that it is easy to transport andstands securely when in use. The guideway 2 is disposed at a goodoperating height. The guideway 2 is open on top, shown on the right inthe figure, where the pieces that are being processed are entered.Adjoining the same, in the direction of conveyance F, is a conveyancearea with a safety cover 40, and the conveyance area is adjoined by theconveyor drive 3, which is covered with the forward drive housing 38 andthe protection hood, which is not shown. A protection hood is alsoprovided on the output side of the former.

[0031] In the conveyance area, conveyor wheels 31-33, for example threeof them, are disposed behind one another in the direction of conveyanceF at the height of the vertebrae being conveyed and acting upon the samewith a contact pressure force, said conveyor wheels having actuatingcams 30 distributed along their circumference. Behind the side of theconveyor drive 3 that is drawn as see-through, gearwheels 36 aredisposed coaxial to the conveyor wheels 31-33, and intermediate wheels35 are located between the gearwheels 36 that distribute the drive forcebetween the wheels 36 and synchronize the same.

[0032] The cutting area of the cutting rim 10 of the cutting blade 11 islocated above the geared motor 12 of the cutting device 1 in thedirection of conveyance F between the second and third conveyor wheel32, 33, so that a reliable transportation to and from the cutting areais ensured. The toothed rim 10 preferably has a somewhat higher speed inthe advancing direction than the conveyor wheels 31-33 on theircircumference, so that the cut is made in a pulling fashion.

[0033] The severed sparerib is guided by the deflector 45 into a funnel43 and the smaller side piece is guided via the deflector 45 into theremoval funnel 44. The remaining backbone leaves the device at the endof the conveyor belt.

[0034] In an additional embodiment of the device, which is not shown,the deflector 45 is electromagnetically height-adjustable. A lightbarrier or a sensor in the forward drive area in front of the saw 1controls the magnet.

[0035]FIG. 3 shows a top view of the device with the conveyor deviceremoved. The guideway 2, 2A is funnel shaped on the inlet side andexecuted a little wider in the intake area 23A than in the conveying andcutting area to facilitate insertion of the spareribs.

[0036] The two guide plates 21, 22 incorporate beveled edges that widenthe guide channel 23 toward the top. The outer second guide plate 22 issupported on its stand-supported end in parallel cross guides 26 on thestand 4 and can be locked with easy to operate locking means 25 wheneverthe gap width W of the guide channel 23 has been adjusted to a desiredsize.

[0037] Also visible in the figure, next to the cutting area, are thefunnels 43, 44 that branch off diagonally slanted at an obtuse angle inthe direction of conveyance F.

[0038]FIG. 4 shows a section of FIG. 1 in the cleaning or maintenancecondition of the device. The protection hood and safety cover arecompletely removed and the conveyor drive 3 is swiveled up around thepivot supports 50 by approximately 45°. A gas spring 39 supports thesame in the process. Along with the conveyor drive 3, the first innerguide plate 21 is also swiveled up in the conveyance area. The secondguide plate 22 can be pulled forward and/or lifted off after releasingthe locking means 25, so that the groove 24, which receives the cuttingrim 10 of the cutting blade 11 adjacent to the cutting area, can beeasily cleaned and the cutting blade 11 can be removed and optionallyexchanged.

[0039] The entire device, to the extent that is exposed to foodstuffsand cleaning agents, is composed of stainless steel or plastic that isauthorized for use in the food industry.

[0040]FIG. 5 shows an enlargement of the cutting area from FIG. 1. Theguideway is executed between the guide plates 21, 22 as a wedge-shapedgroove 23 that is tapered at its bottom. Rotating horizontally below thesame is the cutting blade 11 with its cutting rim 10 that is taperedalong its edge and produces a splitting cutting effect. The taperedcutting blade area extends beyond the slot 23 of the guideway into areceiving groove 24 of the outer second guide plate 22, which isremovably fixed on the stand by means of the locking means 25.

[0041] The backbone RR lies with its split side facing up and rests withthe halves of the spiny processes DF, DF* on one of the guide plates 22,21. The parts of the given right half of the carcass have been markedwith an asterisk by the reference numeral and are drawn in a dashedline. The popular sparerib RS, RS* projects through the guide slot byapproximately 10 cm. The severing cut extends immediately below thesmall side processes SF of the vertebrae when the width of the guideslot has been adjusted to match the vertebrae size of the type ofanimal. The narrower side pieces NS, NS*, which contain the false shortribs, are also severed from the vertebrae members without major losses.The conveyor speed of the conveyor wheels 33 is approximately 1 m/s.

[0042] Added to the above described advantages is the fact that thesheared-off end product looks better than one that has been producedwith a band saw, due to a clean surface, and contains a comparablylesser number of germs and, hence, has a longer shelf life. There is nosmearing caused by sawdust on the meat surface or on the cutting blade.Bone splinters also do not form. The phase of the cutting blade isoriented upward and the smooth side is oriented toward the useablepieces, the spareribs. Minor amounts of crumbs that form in the upperregion on the cutting blade are wiped off and do not smear the cuttingblade. Deposits that would form a breeding ground for microbes and,hence, cause a problem of hygiene, thus do not form.

[0043]FIG. 6 shows an additional embodiment of the device, wherein aconveyor belt 6 is disposed on the output side of the cutting blade 11below the same, in lieu of a slide with the collection container. Theconveyor belt 6 is guided around two deflection rollers 60, 61, whichare supported in a frame 62. The motor 64 serves to drive the belt 6 viaa drive roller 65, as shown in FIG. 6 with the cover removed.

[0044] The frame 62 is held pivoting and easily removable on the stand 4in holders 66. It can thus be moved into a vertical position as in FIG.7 and 8 to provide access for cleaning, and placed into a slanted orhorizontal position, depending on the height of the processing table 7onto which the spareribs are to be conveyed. A cover 67, which is alsomounted on the frame 4 in a manner so that it can be swiveled up andremoved, as shown in FIG. 8, is provided for protection above theconveyance area of the belt 6.

[0045] All coverings and conveyor means are provided in their operatingposition with locking means and/or contacts, which are switched in amanner so that an operation is possible only in a completely safeready-mode.

[0046] In a further embodiment phase, as shown dashed in FIG. 6,severing shears 8 are disposed below the input area, which arecontrolled by sensors and which close when the short flap, i.e., theside piece is located in the shearing area.

[0047] The conveyor wheel on the input end is preferably driven in acontrollable, coupled manner and is uncoupled by the sensors in eachcase when the severing shears 8 are being actuated.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0048]1 Cutting Device

[0049]10 Cutting Rim

[0050]11 Cutting Blade

[0051]12 Geared Motor

[0052]2, 2A Guideway

[0053]21 First Guide Plate

[0054]22 Second Guide Plate

[0055]23 Guide Channel

[0056]23A Inlet Area

[0057]24 Cutting Rim Receiving Groove

[0058]25 Locking Means for 22

[0059]26 Cross Guides

[0060]3 Conveyor Drive

[0061]30 Actuating Cams

[0062]31-33 Conveyor Wheels

[0063]34 Pendulum-Type Support

[0064]35 Intermediate Wheels

[0065]36 Gearwheels

[0066]37 Conveyor Motor

[0067]38 Forward Drive Housing

[0068]39 Gas Spring

[0069]4 Stand

[0070]40 Safety Cover

[0071]41 Protecting Hood

[0072]42 Suspension-Type Connector for 41

[0073]43 Removal Funnel for RS

[0074]44 Removal Funnel for NS

[0075]45 Deflector

[0076]46, 46A Rollers

[0077]50 Pivoting Support for 3

[0078]6 Conveyor Belt

[0079]60, 61 Deflector Rollers

[0080]62 Frame

[0081]64 Motor

[0082]65 Drive Roller

[0083]66 Belt Frame Holder

[0084]67 Protection Cover

[0085]7 Processing Table

[0086]8 Severing Shears

[0087] DF Spiny Processes

[0088] DF* Spiny Processes (right)

[0089] F Direction of Conveyance

[0090] NS Side Piece

[0091] NS* Side Piece (right)

[0092] RR Backbone

[0093] RS Sparerib

[0094] RS* Sparerib (right)

[0095] SF Side Processes

[0096] W Gap Width

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for severing a sparerib (R) from abackbone (RR), wherein the split backbone is conveyed inside a guideway(2), which is comprised of two guide plates (21, 22) and which delimitsa wedge-shaped channel (23) through which the sparerib (R) projects ineach case and a blade (10) of a cutting device (1) traverses past on theside of the ribs, characterized in that the cutting device (1) is acircular blade with a wedge-shaped sharp-edged cutting rim (10), thecutting blade (11) of which is disposed close and parallel to the guideplates (21, 22), whose distance from one another is adjustable.
 2. Adevice according to claim 1, characterized in that the cutting blade(11) is disposed essentially horizontally.
 3. A device according to anyof the above claims, characterized in that the cutting rim (10) extendsto below or into the guide plate (22) that is located away from thecutting device (1).
 4. A device according to any of the above claims,characterized in that the guide channel (23, 23A) has, in a direction ofconveyance (F), a funnel-shaped beginning area and an insertion andinlet area (23A) that is somewhat wider and open on the top as anadjoining conveying and cutting area.
 5. A device according to any ofthe above claims, characterized in that the guide channel (23) isdesigned tapered toward the bottom and its width (W) can be adjusted ineach case in such a way that the backbone (RR) with its vertebrae andside processes (SF), when placed in the guide channel (23) are flushwith the cutting blade (11).
 6. A device according to any of the aboveclaims, characterized in that a conveyor drive (3) is disposed above theconveyor belt (2) in such a way that it places a contact force onto thesplit surface of the backbone (RR) and acts upon the same in thedirection of conveyance (F) in front of the sawing area, as well as inand behind the sawing area, and transports it out from the end of theguideway (2).
 7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in thatthe conveyor drive (3) consists of a plurality of pimpled conveyorwheels (31-33) that either incorporate elastic webs or are supportedwith a limited vertical movement in pendulum-type supports (34) or withan elastic coupling and which are driven synchronously.
 8. A deviceaccording to claim 7, characterized in that the drive axles of theconveyor wheels (31-33) are connected to one another in terms of a drivevia gearwheels (36) and intermediate wheels (35).
 9. A device accordingto claim 8, characterized in that the conveyor drive (3) together withits conveyor motor (37) is disposed as a pivoting assembly on a stand(4), which carries the circular blade (11).
 10. A device according toclaim 9, characterized in that the pivoting assembly of the conveyordrive (3) is supported on the stand (4) by means of a gas pressurespring (39) and the inside guide plate (21) carries at least the sectionof it that is located in the conveyance area.
 11. A device according toclaim 9, characterized in that the conveyor drive (3) is encompassed bya conveyor housing (38) on which a protection hood (41) for the sawingand conveyance area is suspended in a manner so that it can be swiveledup and removed.
 12. A device according to claim 11, characterized inthat the guide channel (23) is covered between the insertion area (23A)and protection hood (41) with a safety cover (40) that has a matchingfree area for the given inserted backbone (RR).
 13. A device accordingto any of the above claims, characterized in that, in the direction ofconveyance (F) adjoining the sawing area, a deflector (45) is disposedat a distance below the guide channel (23) in such a way that a sawedoff sparerib (RS, RS*) falls off the same into a first removal funnel(43) and a shorter side piece (NS, NS*) falls into a second removalfunnel (44) that is located behind the former.
 14. A device according toany of the above claims, characterized in that the stand (4) sits onrigidly aligned wheels (46) and on swivel-mounted lockable wheels (46A).15. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that the conveyordrive (3) conveys at a speed somewhat below the circumference speed ofthe circular blade (11).
 16. A device according to claim 13,characterized in that the deflector (45) is height adjustable byelectromagnetic control through a sensor in the conveyance area in frontof the sawing area at the height of the ends of the side pieces (NS).17. A device according to any of the above claims, characterized in thaton the output side of the cutting disk (11) a motor-driven conveyor belt(6) is disposed below the former, which transports the severed spareribs(RS) laterally out of the stand (4).
 18. A device according to claim 12,characterized in that the conveyor belt (6) is supported deflected byrollers (60, 61) in a frame (66) that is held on the stand (4) with anadjustable inclination and removable, so that it can be moved verticallyinto a transportation and cleaning position and into a horizontal orinclined operating position.
 19. A device according to any of claims 17or 18, characterized in that the conveyor belt (6) is encased with aprotection cover (67), which is held pivoting and removable on the stand(4).
 20. A device according to any of the above claims, characterized inthat motor-driven shears are disposed in an inlet area in front of thecutting disk (11) below the guide plates (21, 22), which is controlledby sensors to briefly close in each case when the side piece (NS), andonly the side piece is located completely within its shearing zone. 21.A device according to claim 20, characterized in that the conveyor wheelon the inlet side is driven controllable and coupled and is decoupled bythe sensors in each case when the cutting shears (8) are being actuated.